'Unfair' legislative practice eliminated

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Senate and House leaders have agreed to eliminate a legislative procedure that government watchdog groups have called undemocratic.

Legislative leaders last week agreed to end a practice that required the approval from a majority of conference committee chairpersons for a measure to pass. That meant in many conference committees, one chairperson could kill a measure even if the rest of the committee members wanted to pass it.

The amended procedures now allow conference committee members to approve measures by a simple majority vote. House-Senate conference committees meet in the final days of the legislative session to work out differences between House and Senate versions of bills.

"This is a long-awaited victory for citizens," said Jackie Parnell of the Hawai'i Pro-Democracy Initiative, a government watchdog group.

Conference committee chairpersons can still stall bills by other means, such as by not holding a meeting or by not signing a meeting notice.

Senate President Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), said the change was in response to "growing concern" among lawmakers that the procedure gave an unfair advantage to conference committee chairpersons.

"Although there has been some attempt to label this practice as 'anti-democratic,' this is an option that is rarely, if ever, invoked," Bunda said.

Sen. Les Ihara, D-9th (Kapahulu, Kaimuki, Palolo), and House Republicans were among the lawmakers who had called for the change.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.